The Great Pyramid

When the Great Pyramid of Egypt was built it was 146 meters (480
feet) tall. Time has worn the pyramid down to 138 meters (455.4
feet) and it still continues to erode. The pyramid was once covered
with limestone that was polished and believed to be left white. The
sides of the pyramid are carefully positioned to point north, south,
east, and west. The base of the pyramid has sides that measure 230.4
meters (755.9 feet) in length. It was designed so accurately, that
the error of margin between the sides is less than 1 percent.

The Great Pyramid is made up of approximately two million blocks
of limestone and slopes upward 51 °. Each block used to construct
the pyramid is estimated to weigh more than two tons. It belonged to
the pharaoh Khufu and once held his body; however, today the pyramid
remains empty. The Great Pyramid is considered the last ancient
wonder of the world standing today.

Khafre’s Pyramid

The second pyramid belongs to the pharaoh Khafre. Unlike the
pyramid of Khufu, the angle of this pyramid is 53 ° and the pyramid
stands 148.5 meters (470.5 feet) tall. This pyramid is 10 meters
shorter than Khufu’s, though appears to be larger due to the height
of the bedrock and stands on the northern side of the Giza Plateau.
The top of this pyramid has a smooth limestone cap also giving it
the illusion of being larger than Khufu’s pyramid too. Like Khufu’s
pyramid, this tomb was also looted.

Menkaure’s Pyramid

The pyramid of Menkaure, or the third pyramid, is the smallest of
the three pyramids. Its design is not as well detailed as the other
two pyramids or is it as massive. Today it stands 66.5 meters (218
feet) and has an angle of 51 °. The base of this smaller pyramid is
108.5 meters (355.9 feet). The pyramid was not complete when
Menkaure died so his son Shepseskaf took the task of finishing the
project.

These pyramids may appear to be alone on the Giza Plateau but are
not. There are many other structures that surround these massive
tombs such boat pits, queens’ pyramids, mortuary temples, valley
temples, mastabas, and the sphinx.